Board carrier

ABSTRACT

A board carrier ( 100 ) comprising a holder ( 300, 400 ) for holding a plurality of boards; a body ( 200 ) mounting said holder ( 300, 400 ); a plurality of wheels ( 500 ) attached to the body ( 200 ) for contact with a ground surface; and a handle ( 600 ) associated with the body ( 200 ) to move said carrier ( 100 ); wherein the body ( 200 ) is formed from at least two sections ( 210, 220, 230 ), the sections ( 210, 220, 230 ) pivotally connected to each other.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to a board carrier. In particular, the inventionrelates to a board carrier that is able to carry a plurality ofsurfboards or the like and can be stored easily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The beach is a popular place of rest and recreation for many differentgroups of people including families. Due to the increasing popularity ofsurfing, many families have two or more family members that surf.Subsequently, when a family attends the beach, there are usually atleast two boards that must be transported to the beach.

Most families travel to the beach using a motor vehicle that carries theboards. Once at the beach, the boards are normally taken from thevehicle and carried to the beach. A least one arm is required to carry aboard, limiting the number of items that can be carried in a single tripto the beach from a vehicle. This causes a person to make multiple tripsfrom the vehicle to the beach and back again to transport all of thenecessary items.

Various types of carriers have been developed that may be suitable forcarrying boards. For example, FR 2735741-A1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,221, CA2258380 and CH 670 695 disclose handling trolleys that may be able tocarry boards. However, these type of board carries are large and unableto be transported easily within a motor vehicle. Further, the handlingtrolleys are not conducive to operation on a beach.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to overcome or alleviate one or more ofthe above disadvantages and/or provide the consumer with a useful orcommercial choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in one form, although not necessarily the only or broadestform, the invention resides in a board carrier comprising:

a holder for holding a plurality of boards;

a body mounting said holder;

a plurality of wheels attached to the body for contact with a groundsurface; and

a handle associated with the body to move said carrier;

wherein the body is formed from at least two sections, the sectionspivotally connected to each other.

It should be appreciated that the term “board” may incorporatesurfboards, body boards or the like wave riding and/or floatationdevices.

The board carrier may be foldable. Preferably, the board carrier cancarry at least five boards. The board carrier may be constructed fromrust resistant material.

The holder may include two racks. The respective racks may be positionedadjacent opposing ends of the body. The racks may be pivotally mountedto the body. Each rack may include a plurality of fingers that extendoutwardly from the body. The width between adjacent fingers may bevaried. Each rack may be located on different sections.

The body may include a storage area to hold items. Alternately, the bodymay include a seat or baby capsule.

Preferably there are three sections that are pivotally connected to eachother.

Preferably, there are two wheels. The wheels may be removably attachedto the body. Preferably, the wheels are attached to the body so that theboard carrier can be pivoted easily with respect to the ground surface.

Preferably, the wheels are attached adjacent where sections of the bodyare pivotally connected.

The handle may be attached to the body. The handle may be pivotallyattached to the body. The handle may be telescopic to lengthen and/orshorten the handle as is required.

Alternatively, the handle may form part of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to theaccompany drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a board carrier according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the board carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a further perspective view of the board carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a side view of the board carrier in an extended position;

FIG. 4B is a side view of the board carrier in a semi-folded position;

FIG. 4C is a side view of the board carrier in a further semi-folded;

FIG. 4D is a side view of the board carrier in a folded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 to 3, a board carrier 100 is shown having a body200, a forward rack 300, a rear rack 400, two wheels 500 and a handle600.

The body 200 includes a rear section 210, a forward section 220 and anextension section 230. The rear section 210 is pivotally mounted to theforward section 220 and the forward section 220 is pivotally mounted tothe extension section 230.

The rear section 210 is formed from two rear side frames 211 that arespaced apart by a rear spacer 212. The front section 220 is formed fromtwo front side frames 221. The extension section 230 is formed from twoside extension frames 231 that are spaced apart by an extension spacer232.

A central shaft 213 spaces and allows the front section 210 to pivotrelative the rear section 220. Holes 214 and 224 located in respectivefront and rear frames 211 and 221 are used to locate a locking pin (notshown) through the frames 211 and 221 to lock the frames 211 and 221together.

The central shaft 213 is also used to attach the wheels 500 to thecarrier 100. The wheels 500 are mounted to axles 510 that are mounted tothe central shaft 213. The axles 510 are attached to the wheels 500using retaining pins 520. The axles 510 are located through the frames211 and 221 using centre spacer 530 and centre bushes 540. The axles 510are also located within the centre shaft 213 and mounted to the centreshaft 213 using clips (not shown).

The wheels 500 are normally golf buggy wheels and can be constructedfrom rigid material, such as rubber, or may be inflatable tyres

An extension shaft 233 spaces and allows the front section 210 to pivotrelative the extension section 230. Extension shaft stops 234 forms endsof the extension shaft 233. The extension shaft 233 is mounted to thefront frames 221 and extension frames 231 using locking bushes 235,locking bush pins 236, and release buttons 237. The locking bushes 235are located through the extension frames 231 and fixed to the end of theextension shaft 234. The locking pins 236 are connected to the releasebuttons 237 and are placed through the side frames 221 and fixed to thelocking bushes 235.

The extension shaft stops 234 prevent the front side frames 221 andextension side frames 233 rotating past each other as both frames 221and 231 engage the extension shaft stops 234.

Webbing 250 extends over the rear section 210 and forward section 220 toform a seat. The seat can be used to accommodate a small child or carrybeach items, such as wetsuits, bags, towels and the like. Alternatively,a baby capsule may be attached to and located between the rear section210 and forward section 220.

The forward rack 300 is located adjacent the end of the extensionsection 230 whilst the rear rack 400 is located adjacent an end of therear section 210. Each rack 300 and 400 is formed from a number offingers 310 and 410 that extend from a transverse bar 320 and 420. Thefingers 310 and 410 of each rack 300 and 400 are substantially parallelto one another. A foam sleeve 311 and 411 is located around each of thefingers to prevent the boards from being damaged. Two outer fingers 312and 412 are also form part of the racks 300 and 400.

The transverse bars 320 and 420 have threaded ends 321 and 421respectively. The threaded ends 321 and 421 are passed throughrespective frames 231 and 211. Bushes 322 and 422 and washers 323 and423 are located adjacent respective threaded ends 321 and 421. Splitclamps 324 and 424 are located within the locking nuts 325 and 425. Endsof outer fingers 312 and 412 are located through the locking nuts 325and 425 and split clamps 324 and 424. By screwing the locking nuts 325and 425 onto the threaded ends 321 and 421, this causes the split clamps324 and 424 to hold the outer fingers 312 and 412 in position. Further,the locking nuts 325 and 425 also hold the transverse bars 320 and 420relative to the frames 231 and 211.

The handle 600 comprises a handle grip 630, a handle shaft 620 and anhandle extension shaft 610. The handle extension shaft 610, handle shaft620 and handle extension shaft 610 are attached using suitable fasteners(not shown). The end of the extension shaft 630 is threaded and fitsinto a handle nut 640 that is located with the transverse bar 320. Ahole 650 allows the handle extension shaft 610 to be passed through thetransverse bar 320 to screw the handle extension shaft 610 onto thehandle nut 640.

The central shaft 213 is located so that when boards (not shown) areplaced on the board carrier 100, minimal force is required to push thehandle 600 downwardly to enable the board carrier 100 to be moved viathe wheels 500.

The board carrier 100 shown in this embodiment can carry up to fiveboards 100. However, it should be appreciated that the number of fingers310 and 410 can be varied to carry more or less boards, as is required.

FIG. 3 shows the board carrier 100 where the rack 400 has been adjustedto a different angle with respect to the rear section 210. The rearsection 210 has also been adjusted by locating the locking pin in adifferent hole 214 on the rear frame 211.

Referring to FIGS. 4A to 4D, the board carrier 100 can be folded so thatit can be packed into a bag or located within a vehicle withoutoccupying a substantial amount of space.

The board carrier 100 is folded from an extended position shown in FIG.4A to a folded position shown in FIG. 4D. This board carries is foldedby unscrewing the handle extension shaft 610 from the handle nut 640 toremove the handle 600 from the transverse bar 320. The handle shaft 620and handle extension shaft 610 can then be separated from each other.

The locking nuts 325 and 425 can be partially unscrewed from thetransverse bars 320 and 420 to allow the transverse bars 320 and 420 tobe rotated relative to extension section 230 and the rear section 210.The locking pins are removed from the rear side frames 211 and frontside frames 221 to allow the rear side frames 211 and the front sideframes 221 to pivot with respect to each other.

The rear section 210, front section 220, extension section 230, frontrack 300 and rear rack 400 are now able to pivot so that they are ableto collapse on each other as shown in FIG. 4D. If desired, the wheels500 can be removed by releasing the retaining pins.

The board carrier 10 can be easily located within a bag of commensuratesize or located within a vehicle. The board carrier enables multipleboards and beach items to be carried easily to the beach. It eliminatesthe need for multiple trips to be conducted and can be operated by asingle hand.

It should be appreciated that the board carrier 100 may be modified sothat it may be attached to a bicycle so that it may be towed.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modificationsmay be made to the embodiment described without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention.

1. A board carrier comprising: a holder, including two racks, forholding a plurality of boards; a body mounting said holder, the bodybeing formed from at least two sections, the sections pivotallyconnected to each other; a plurality of wheels attached to the body forcontact with a ground surface; and a handle associated with the body tomove said carrier; wherein each rack includes a plurality of fingersthat extend outwardly from the body.
 2. The board carrier of claim 1wherein the respective racks are positioned adjacent opposing ends ofthe body.
 3. The board carrier of claim 2 wherein the racks arepivotally mounted to the body.
 4. The board carrier of claim 1 whereinthe width between adjacent fingers is variable.
 5. The board carrier ofclaim 1 wherein each rack is located on different sections.
 6. The boardcarrier of claim 1 wherein the body includes a storage area.
 7. Theboard carrier of claim 1 wherein the body includes a seat or babycapsule.
 8. The board carrier of claim 1 wherein there are threesections that are pivotally connected to each other.
 9. The boardcarrier of claim 1 wherein the wheels are removably attached to thebody.
 10. The board carrier of claim 1 wherein the wheels are attachedadjacent where sections of the body are pivotally connected.
 11. Theboard carrier of claim 1 wherein the handle is attached to the body. 12.The board carrier of claim 1 wherein the handle is pivotally attached tothe body.
 13. The board carrier of claim 1 wherein the handle istelescopic.
 14. The board carrier of claim 1 wherein the board carrierthe board carrier may be constructed from rust resistant material.